Kiev, February 4, 2020
Photo: pomisna.info
The announced agreements on the implementation of joints projects between the United States and the “Metropolitan Foundation of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine” indicate that the U.S. government is planning to openly sponsor the schismatic church, Archpriest Nikolai Danilevich, the Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Church’s Department for External Church Relations, commented to the Union of Orthodox Journalists.
However, there does not seem to be any reaction to this fact from the Ukrainian media and society.
“This is quite strange, and on the other hand, indicative,” the UOC speaker said. “Our Church is often accused of Moscow allegedly paying us money, although there is no evidence of this. But here—America is ready to pay money to the OCU right out in the open and unceremoniously, and—nothing!”
“There are double standards when they themselves openly do what they groundlessly accuse others of,” Fr. Daniel said.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with “Metropolitan” Epiphany Dumenko of the OCU in Kiev on January 31. Dumenko expressed gratitude for the U.S.’s support for his structure, and the parties reached an agreement on bilateral cooperation “especially in the field of protecting the freedom of conscience and religion.”
According to the website of the OCU, Secretary Pompeo instructed his team to form a working group, which should include representatives of the State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, that will assist the Metropolitan Foundation of the OCU in implementing a number of social projects, including projects aimed at the reintegration of Donbass.
For his part, Pompeo also noted how pleased he was that the Church of Greece and the Alexandrian Patriarchate have also recognized the OCU.
Political scientist Ruslan Bortnik, the Director of the Ukrainian Institute of Policy Analysis and Management, agrees with Fr. Daniel.
“Pompeo's words are a formal symbol that the U.S. supports the OCU. For the Ukrainian political elite, this is also a certain signal to action: If you want to have support from America, you have to support the new church structure in Ukraine,” he explained.
Also commenting on the meeting, His Eminence Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye said, “It has long been clear to everyone that the United States has become the leading center for all anti-Orthodox forces in the world. And, of course, M. Pompeo’s visit to Epiphany should be understood as another marker of American policy on the forces that they use to fight Orthodoxy in our country.”
Ukraine is being sold out to people who care nothing for its spiritual or economic development, the hierarch added.
Epiphany Dumenko “never talks about anything spiritual at all. All his interests revolve only around politics. He lies all the time and sows enmity and hatred in our homeland, falsely complaining and keeping silent about the actions of his criminal group… M. Pompeo, whose heart is filled with intrigue and meanness, is not interested in those who have faith, honor and conscience in their soul. He will not meet with Metropolitan Onuphry, whose heart yearns for God,” the fiery Ukrainian hierarch said.
